The AIA/ACSA Topaz Medallion for Excellence in Architectural Education is awarded jointly by the AIA and the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (ACSA) to an individual, who must be living at the time of nomination, who has spent at least a decade primarily involved in architectural education, and whose primary contribution to architectural education has been on the North American continent.
Past Topaz Medallion Recipients

2009 Topaz Medallion Call for Nominations

Submissions - Updated August 14, 2008

New this year is the requirement that all submissions be provided on a disk not in a
binder - one PDF file not to exceed 4 MB.

2009 Topaz Medallion Submission Memo
2009 Topaz Medallion Submission Forms

Any questions can be addressed to the AIA Honors and Awards Department at honorsawards@aia.org

Each submission shall contain the following information:

• A nomination letter by the sponsor not to exceed one page
• A biography of the candidate not to exceed two pages
• A statement of contributions not to exceed four pages
• A roster of distinguished students
• Supporting material (e.g., clippings, articles, etc.) relating to the purpose of the award not to exceed four pages
• A maximum of 10 letters of support by those who know the quality of the nominee's products--by those who also taught, by those who practiced architecture, and by those who perhaps did neither; letters should be explicit in their recommendation and contain specific reasons for support. Letters must not exceed one page.

Eligibility

Any colleague, student, or former student may nominate candidates for the Topaz Medallion.

Criteria

• The candidate shall have evidenced great depth, having a cumulative effect on a long line of students.
• The candidate shall have evidenced great breadth, having influenced a wide range of students.
• The candidate shall be a person whose activities have consistently directed themselves toward the future as well as the past.
• The candidate shall have evidenced the ability to transcend specific areas of expertise or shall have made connections between areas, in the event that the candidate's areas of focus might be considered circumscribed.
• The candidate shall be widely known by the quality of his or her products: by those who also taught, by those who practiced architecture, and by those who perhaps did neither.

Jury

Jeffery Potter, AIA, Longview, Tex. (Chair)
Jeff Potter Architects

John Wallace Blanchard, Marietta, Ga.
American Institute of Architecture Students (AIAS)

Frances Bronet, Eugene, Ore.
University of Oregon
School of Architecture and Allied Arts

Henry N. Cobb, FAIA, New York City
Pei Cobb Freed & Partners

Patrick T. Onishi, AIA, Honolulu, Hawaii
Patrick T. Onishi, AIA Architect

Contact:
Helen Looney
202.262.7586
honorsawards@aia.org
1735 New York Avenue
Washington DC

Sponsoring Organization:
American Institute of Architects

Co Sponsors:
Associate of Collegiate Schools of Architecture

Websites:
http://www.aia.org